Review by Natasha WybornKC and the Sunshine Band at Rochford Wines | Yarra Valley VIC | 10 December 2017Photographer: David Jackson

A Day on the Green | Rochford Wines | Yarra Valley, Victoria | 10 December 2017

“You can’t stop the music”. Well actually you can, in the Yarra Valley on Sunday evening promoter Michael Newton was faced with the unenviable task of informing the packed venue that due to an illness of founding member Victor Willis, Village People would not be performing. The event scaled back to three acts would go ahead following an apology from the promoter. At this stage there were a number of patrons that took the option of a refund and left the venue. For the majority of the crowd they stayed and partied like it was 1976.

Australia’s Marcia Hines hit the stage looking glamorous in a shinny pant suit. Hines graced and moved around the stage much like her countdown years in the 70’s. Backed by a talented three piece ensumble the disco era was the obvious theme of her set. Hines also snuck in the odd classic “You” went over well with the crowd. Sadly as quick as it began it was over with Hines blasting out “It’s Raining Men” to the dancing crowd.

A Village People tribute by DJ Grand Master Baitz complete with an audience “Village People” fashion parade received the endorsement of the crowd with one Indian dancer so committed to the YMCA he could easily have taken the place in the current line up of the band. A brief appearance by Village People including Victor Willis also recieved the crowds admiration.

Philadelphia born 70’s disco icons Sister Sledge took the stage featuring founding members and sisters Debbie and Kim Sledge. From the onset it was a trip back to Studio 54 and the days where the disco ball ruled every dance floor in the world. Playing hits like “Frankie”, “He’s the Greatest Dancer”, “Thinking of You” and “Mama Never Told Me”. The band got an immediate reaction from the crowd. From dancing pantsuits and cork high heels to a construction worker who had jumped fence from the village to join the disco people. Finishing their set with the world wide smash “We Are Family” there was an obvious love and unity in the crowd.

Backed by nine musicians and four gorgeous dancers, Harry Casey AKA KC lead his Sunshine Band (KC and the Sunshine Band) through a collection of hits which resulted in on your feet based on the ground and moving basically from the first beat. All the hits were showcased including “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty”, “Keep It Comin’ Love” and “Boogie Shoes”. The 79 smash “Please Don’t Go” saw the crowd change from disco dance floor to close and romantic. Casey’s engagement throughout the set was entertaining. Commenting on his age and waist expansion “I’m 66 and over the years i have gained a few pounds, there was a time when I was going to rename the band to KFC” referring to the colonel Sanders… everyone laughed . A highlight for the evening was the inclusion of the 1974 Casey penned “Rock Your Baby” made famous by George McCrae. The hits kept coming with “Boogie Shoes” and “Get Down Tonight” before wrapping up with “That’s the Way (I Like It).

Stevie Nicks + Pretenders (Chrissie Hynde) at A Day On THe Green – Rochford Wines Yarra Valley Victoria – 18 November 2017Photographer : David Jackson
Neither an electric storm or pouring rain could stop the final show of the 24 Karat Gold tour held at Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. The latest instalment of A Day on the Green pitted two Rock & Roll Hall of Famers on the one bill. Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde from Akron, Ohio was brought up on the punk side of town mentored by Malcolm McLaren. On the other side is Stevie Nicks from Phoenix, Arizona a member of one of the most influential bands in music history. Given these ladies musical roots, both should have been on a collision course to destroy each other, that said, they are the best of friends. It’s a “storytellers” tour Nicks told the audience early in her set.Continue reading Live Review : Stevie Nicks ’24 Karat Gold Tour’ with Pretenders (Chrissie Hynde) at Rochford Wines Yarra Valley Victoria – 18 November 2017→

Australian pop icon, and our newest ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, Tina Arena has today announced a series of ONE NIGHT ONLY shows in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast in February and March, 2016, in support of her latest album, Eleven. These shows are in addition to the previously announced A Day on the Green concerts with Simply Red and follow dates currently scheduled in Dubai, London and Beirut in January.Continue reading Tina Arena Announces One Night Only Tour!→

*** TOUR UPDATE ***ROB THOMAS has now announced a special second and final Sydney show at the State Theatre on Friday February 26.

This will be Sydney’s final chance to see Rob – the frontman, lead vocalist and key songwriter for Matchbox Twenty and major solo artist – playing his hits and classics, plus select tracks from The Great Unknown.

*** ***

ROB THOMAS has had an ongoing, 20-year long, love affair with Australian audiences – both as the frontman, lead vocalist and key songwriter for Matchbox Twenty and also as a major solo artist.

In February 2016, that romance will continue as Thomas makes a very welcome return down-under for a national headline tour.

Touring in support of his first solo album in more than six years, the long-awaited The Great Unknown, Thomas’ summer tour will include a special night under the stars, ‘On The Steps’ at the Sydney Opera House, three winery shows, including at A Day On The Green in Queensland and Victoria, as well as a headline Melbourne arena performance and Perth and Canberra performances.

Rob Thomas will also be the headliner at the Clipsal 500 Post-Race concert in Adelaide on Sunday, March 6.

“I’ll be playing some of the new stuff, some of the old stuff, a little bit of everything, it’s pretty exciting…” said Thomas of The Great Unknown World Tour.

Joining Rob Thomas on all dates will be special guest Pete Murray, with Darren Middleton of Powderfinger fame appearing at the three winery shows.

Tickets go on sale at 10am Wednesday, November 25.

Fan club members can be among the first to secure tickets during the exclusive pre-sale commencing 2pm tomorrow, November 17.

Telstra Thanks is bringing an exciting 48-hour pre-sale just for Telstra customers from 10am Friday, November 20 until 9am Monday, November 23. Head to telstra.com/music for more information on how to purchase.

Currently in Australia on a promotional visit, multiple Grammy Award winner Rob Thomas is known worldwide as lead singer and primary composer with Matchbox Twenty, as well as for his hugely successful solo work and chart-topping collaborations. Overall, Thomas has contributed to sales of more than 80 million records.

Featuring singles ‘Trust You’ and ‘Hold on Forever’, The Great Unknown (out now through Warner Music Australia) is the third and latest solo offering from the master singer-songwriter.

Thomas delivered his solo debut in 2005. …Something To Be hit #1 on the ARIA Album Chart and earned sales of three-times platinum, adding singles ‘Lonely No More’, ‘This Is How A Heart Breaks’ and ‘Streetcorner Symphony’ to the list of Thomas classics. His 2009 follow up, Cradlesong, featured ‘Her Diamonds’, peaked at #3 on the ARIA Album Chart and achieved double-platinum sales.

Matchbox Twenty released their debut album Yourself Or Someone Like You in 1996. Home to massive hits ‘Push’ and ‘3AM’, the album amassed sales of 10-times platinum in Australia. The band’s most recent studio album, 2012’s North – fuelled by the hit singles ‘She’s So Mean’, ‘Overjoyed’ and ‘Our Song’ – reaped their first-ever US #1 debut and Billboard 200 chart-topper, and an ARIA Album Chart #1.

Rob Thomas, in part, also holds the title of the second-most played track on Australian radio of the past 15 years with ‘Smooth’, his certified worldwide smash hit collaboration with Santana for which he collected three Grammy Awards. The tune resided at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for a staggering 12 weeks in 1999.

Eventually spending more than two and a half years in the Top 100. ‘Feeler’ spawned Murray’s classic ‘So Beautiful’ which went on to become the Most Performed Australian Song of the Year.

Follow up LPs ‘See The Sun’ (2005) and ‘Summer At Eureka’ (2008) both debuted at #1, delivering Murray three consecutive chart-topping albums. Released in September 2011, Murray’s fourth studio album ‘Blue Sky Blue’ sold Gold and spawned the hits ‘Always A Winner’ and ‘Free’.

Pete Murray has remained one of Australia’s hottest and most in-demand touring properties, repeatedly enjoying sold out tours across the country and aboard.

Darren Middleton, best known as Powderfinger’s lead guitarist and songwriter, will join the line up at Hope Estate Winery on Saturday February 27, at Sirromet Wines on Sunday, February 28, and at Rochford Wines on Saturday, March 5.

Performing a number of iconic Powderfinger songs in addition to his solo material. Middleton released his new album ‘Splinters’ earlier this month, a follow up to his 2013 debut album, ‘Translations’.

ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20

ROYAL THEATRE, CANBERRA
MONDAY FEBRUARY 22

‘ON THE STEPS’, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE FORECOURT
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24

STATE THEATRE, SYDNEY*
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26

HOPE ESTATE WINERY, HUNTER VALLEY, NSW
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27

ADOTG SIRROMET WINES, MT COTTON, QLD*
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28

KINGS PARK & BOTANIC GARDEN, PERTH**
WEDNESDAY MARCH 2

ADOTG ROCHFORD WINES, YARRA VALLEY, VIC*
SATURDAY MARCH 5

Also performing at Clipsal 500, Adelaide, on Sunday March 6. www.clipsal500.com.au

TICKETS ON SALE
10AM WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25

Telstra Thanks pre-sale:
10am November 20 until 9am November 23

*Presented by A Day On The Green
For event & ticketing information, visit www.adayonthegreen.com.au

Rock icon BILLY IDOL is returning to Australia and New Zealand for his first concert tour of Australia since 2002 and his first of New Zealand since 1987.

The original punk turned global superstar will perform indoor shows and a day on the green winery events in March and April 2015. Idol’s band includes long-time collaborator and lead-guitarist Steve Stevens.

The Black Keys return to Australia off the back of their successful 8th full-length album Turn Blue.

As part of the Turn Blue World Tour, the band will perform in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. They will also headline Bluesfest Byron Bay and will be the first artists to play at the inaugural Rolling Green events, from A Day On The Green promoter Roundhouse Entertainment, at wineries in Victoria’s Yarra Valley and the Hunter Valley NSW.Continue reading The Black Keys Turn Blue World Tour – Australian Dates Announced→